Stories of
American Heroes -
Brought to you from the "Home of Heroes" - Pueblo, Colorado

Percy A. Decker

TAPS

Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky,
Gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, From the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.

Then good night, Peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn
Shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, good night.

Arlington National Cemetery
7-10302

BORN:August 04, 1890 at New York, NY

Entered Service in the US
Navy from New York, NY

Earned
The Medal of Honor During the Mexican Campaign For heroism on
April 21, 1914 at Vera Cruz, Mexico

DIED:August
18, 1936 at the age of 46

In an effort to
force out General Victoriano Huerta, who had seized the presidency
of Mexico in a bloody coup d' etat, President Woodrow Wilson sent
three Navy vessels to Vera Cruz under the command of Rear Admiral
Frank Friday Fletcher. On the morning of April 21 nearly 1,500
American combat troops were put ashore, and that night another
1,500 reinforcements landed. By noon on April 22nd the American
forces had taken control of the city. In the two day action
Fletcher lost 17 men killed, 63 wounded. The Mexicans had nearly
800 dead or wounded. Boatswain's Mate Second Class Percy Decker of
the U.S.S. Florida was one of 55 men awarded the Medal of Honor
for "extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession
during the seizure of Vera Cruz."
Though the United States occupied Vera Cruz for seven months
following the initial landing, the men who landed at Vera Cruz on
April 21 - 22 accomplished their mission in two days, and returned
to their vessels within the same week.